News Roundup for 11/9/11

Mark Block

-Headline of the Day-
"Mark Block is making a laughing stock out of Herman Cain."

Actually, I'm thinking that Herman Cain Train has already left the station. But it turns out that the wingnuts are just starting to catch one.

See, Cain's campaign manager Mark Block is making some waves today after claiming that the campaign had "confirmed" that the son of one of the women accusing Herman of sexual harassment works for Politico.

And here's how that confirmation process apparently went; Block gets on that there Google machine, types in the name of one of the accusers -- "Kraushaar" -- then types in "Politico" (because they broke the story originally) and there ya go. Up pops "Josh Kraushaar."

Bingo! You've got your scapegoat unethical journalist conducting a smear campaign against a True American Patriot. It makes perfect sense to believe that Josh is the woman's son -- if you assume that Karen Kraushaar was the first person in the history of the world to ever use that last name.

Surprisingly, it turns out she's not. Josh is some other woman's son. In fact, Josh doesn't even work at Politico anymore and, since he left for National Journal in 2010, has never written a danged thing about Herman Cain's way with the ladies.

So of course, everyone's after the Cigarette Smoking Man's head now. Everyone wants him gone, because he's the only person standing in the way between Herman and his rightful place on the Throne of the King of the United States. "If he can’t do any better than this, he needs to go," writes whatever wingnut writes stuff at The RightScoop. "In fact, I think it is probably best for Herman Cain’s survival that he dumps Mark Block and gets someone more professional and thorough in there to run his campaign."

They may not yet realize that Herman Cain is toast, but they're all starting to get that Mark Block is a dope. Block would be lucky if a conservative lets him run a Burger King after this. (RightScoop)


-Cain gets back on message-


Click to embiggen

I get it! (McClatchy)


-Bonus HotD-
"275,000 People Want MSNBC To Fire Pat Buchanan."

Since no one asked me, go ahead and make that 275,001. (ThinkProgress)

Stories to Watch: 8/15/11

Going to grill some chicken breasts and have them on home-made pitas with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and lemon honey mustard sauce. Envy me. Now here's the news...


Rick Perry's and Michele Bachmann's Dominionist ties should have all sane people worried.


Although Beth Reinhard at National Journal makes a good case that we really don't have to worry about Bachmann anymore.


Worry about Rick Perry though; not the least because he all but endorsed raising taxes on the retired, impoverished, and disabled in his announcement speech.


Matthew Yglesias learns that it's terribly unfair and dishonest to quote Rick Perry verbatim. Victim cards at the ready, rightwing blogosphere.


Tomorrow is the last round of Wisconsin recall elections. Democrats are defending seats in three races and, while they all poll ahead of their opponents, it's gonna be tight. Or not.


Mittens already seems to be suffering from touring candidate burn out.


The good news: USA Today polled economists and they forecast only a 30% chance we're heading into a second recession. The bad news: that's twice the odds from three months ago.


Finally, Republicans are blocking a tax cut. No, really.

Related articles

• Has Rick Perry proved he's a better campaigner than Michele Bachmann? (csmonitor.com)
• Why Rick Perry Is a More Formidable Opponent Than Michele Bachmann (slog.thestranger.com)
• Rick Perry joins the food on a stick club (politico.com)
• Your Handy Guide To Rick Perry [Video] (jezebel.com)

Stories to Watch: 7/14/11

I'm stuck on what to eat tonight. Burger hash it is. Now here's the news...


Weakest whine of the day: calling out Eric Cantor's intransigence on the debt limit is now antisemitic. At this point it's becoming clear that the right has only victim cards in their deck.


It's OK when Republicans do it, the McCain edition: Imagine how the right would react if Obama -- or any other Democrat -- defended his position by quoting Chairman Mao.


Rupert Murdoch will be hauled before parliament. Still trying to find the rightwing blogosphere's take on all this. So far, there is no take. There are probably wingnuts out there who only get news from conservative sources who don't even know it's happening.


Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says it's crunch time on the debt limit; "We've looked at all available options and we have no way to give Congress more time to solve this problem. We're running out of time." It's August 2 or bust -- literally.


Suprise! If you gave money to Sarah Palin's PAC, you got screwed.


President Obama may have not been entirely honest about his mother's health insurance as she succumbed to cancer. Obama used the story to help pass healthcare reform. In related news, lying about weapons of mass destruction to start a war that killed tens of thousands is cool.


Finally, National Journal peels back the curtain with a Washington insider poll on the debt limit. The results are depressing.

Related articles

• Boehner: Negotiating With White House 'Like Dealing With Jell-O' (huffingtonpost.com)
• GOP Leader's Role In Debt Ceiling Talks Sparks Criticism (huffingtonpost.com)
• FOX News Has Only Reported On The Murdoch Phone-Hacking Scandal 14x In 5 Days (thenewspundit.com)
• Hugh Grant: Rupert Murdoch "Terrified" Police and Politicos, Talks Possible 9/11 Phone-Hacking Victims (eonline.com)